Finnish labor unions urge protections in Emergency Powers Act reform

Labor organizations Tehy and STTK are calling for safeguards in the proposed reform of Finland's Emergency Powers Act. While both unions support the necessity of updating the law to improve societal crisis resilience, they warn that the current government proposal lacks balance between employer rights and employee protections.

The unions highlight alleged abuses of power during the COVID-19 pandemic, where employers reportedly used emergency powers to cancel leaves and mandate overtime to address nursing shortages. They argue that the new legislation grants employers significantly broader authority to deviate from standard regulations regarding working hours, rest periods, annual leave, and notice periods.

To prevent future misconduct, STTK and Tehy propose that the law must include clear consequences for employers who misuse emergency powers. They also suggest mandatory reporting to occupational safety authorities whenever deviations occur, regular assessments of whether emergency measures remain necessary, and guaranteed compensation for any additional costs incurred by employees.